Alarm signal device for openable closures



Oct. 18, 1966 R. W. WALKER, JR 3,280,279

ALARM SIGNAL DEVICE FOR OPENABLE CLOSURES Filed Oct. 19, 1965 //4 25 24 sa 34 a2 4252* ik? n,

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/WA M M MMM/ad@ United States Patent O 3,280,279 ALARM SIGNAL DEVICE FOR OPENABLE CLGSURES Richard W. Walker, Jr., 4009 Atlas Ave., El Paso, Tex. Filed Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 497,861 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.62)

A primary object of this instant invention is to provide a device which may be positioned adjacent an openable closure, such as a door, window, drawer or the like for actuating an alarm upon the opening thereof.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide lan alarm signal device such that it may not be deactivated by other than an yauthorized person after an alarm has been sounded.

Still another object of the instant invention is the utilization of a maze through which a Ipin is moved to avoid the ready deactivation of the device by an unauthorized perso-11.

A more specic object of the instant invention is to provide an alarm signal device having a reciprocable plunger for detecting the opening of an openable closure.

Another more specific object of the instant invention is to provide an alarm signal device having a reciprocable and rotatable plunger in which the reciprocable movement of the plunger detects the opening of an openable closure and activates an alarm switch and in which the rotary movement thereof allows the device to be con- `structed to avoid easy deactivation by an unauthorized v person.

Still another more specitic object of the instant invention -is to provide an alarm signal device having a plunger capable of reciprocable and rotatable movement in which the plunger carries a pin or lug insertable into a maze precluding an unauthorized individual from retracting the plunger to deactivate an alarm.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide an alarm signal device including a maze preventing the ready retraction of an actuating plunger in which a plurality of differently formed mazes may be provided for similar alarms further confounding the attempts of an unauthorized individual to deactivate the alarm signal device.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide an alarm signal device which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install 'and which is durable and long lasting.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGUR-E 1 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional View of the alarm signal device of the instant invention showing an actuating plunger in a withdrawn or retracted position;

FIGURE -2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of the instant invention similar to FIGURE l showing an actuating plunger in an extended position;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view of the device of FIGURES l and 2 taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an expanded or flattened view of a maze and guide means within the alarm signal device of FIG- lURES 1 to 3 inclusive;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of another form of alarm signal device of the instant invention showing an actuating plunger in a retracted or withdrawn position;

FIGURE i6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5 showing the actuating plunger in an extended position;

FIGURE 7 is `a transverse vertical cross-sectional view of the alarm signal device of FIGURES 5 and 6 taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIGURE 5 viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is an expanded or iiattened view of the maze and guide means positioned within the alarm signal device of FIGURES 5 to 7 inclusive; land FIGURE 9 is a view of the alarm signal device associated with an ala-rm positioned at the juncture of an open- `able closure and a stationary support, such as -a door and door jamb.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, and particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive, there is indicated generally at 10 an alarm signal device made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention including a housing designated generally at 12 in which is rotatably and reciprocably mounted an actuating plunger illustrated generally at 14 operating an alarm switch denominated generally at 16 with a maze and guide means shown generally at 18 being used to preclude the easy deactivation of alarm Vsignal device 10 by an unauthorized person.

Housing 12 includes a substantially elliptical casing 20 closed at each end by a pair of apertured plates 22, 24 slidably and rotatably receiving a cylindrical shank 26 of plunger 14. Although both ends of shank 26 preferably extend outwardly of apertured plates 22, 24 for purposes more fully explained hereinafter, it should be understood that only one end of plunger 14 carrying a resilient pad 28 is required to be positioned exteriorly of housing 12. A pin or lug 30 is xedly secured radially of cylindrical shank 26 between resilient pad 28 and Ia spring stop collar 32 fixed surrounding shank 26 for engagement with maze and guide means 18 as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A helical spring 34 surrounds shank 26 `and bears against apertured plate 24 and spring stop collar 32 urging plunger 14 toward the extended position shown in FIG- URE 2. As previously mentioned, it is preferred that both ends of shank 26 extend through housing 12 along the longitudinal axis thereof to expose an aperture 36 through which a safety pin 38, as shown in FIGURE 9, may be inserted to selectively retain plunger 14 in the withdrawn position of FIGURE l. As will be apparent, the removal of pin 38 Will allow spring bias means 34 to urge plunger 14 toward the extended position with a stop bar 40 positioned adjacent the path of reciprocable movement of shank 26 to contact stop collar 32 precluding the overshift of plunger 14.

Stop collar 32 carries a switch activating lug 42 contacting and depressing a normally outwardly biased operating button 44 of alarm switch 116. Switch 16 is secured to the interior of cylindrical casing 20 by a brace 46 and includes a pair of wires 48 extending exteriorly of housing 12 in order to make contact with an alarm as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Switch 16 is preferably of the type that is normally activated when operating button 44 in the outwardly biased position shown in FIGURE 2, but it should be understood that switch 16 may be positioned adjacent stop bar 40 if it is of the push to operate type provided that the operating button thereof is large and has a relatively long travel during which switch 16 will be closed.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, it will be seen that the alarm signal device 10 may be coupled with an alarm 50, such as a horn, gong, bell, buzzer or other type of audible alarm, powered by a plurality of batteries 52 with a suitable electrical connection being made by Wires 48, 54. Alarm signal device 10, audible alarm 50, batteries 52 and the necessary electrical connections are preferably encased in a strong housing 56 mounted by a bracket 58 onto an operable closure 60, such as a door, adjacent a stationary support 62, such as a door jamb.

In the operation of alarm signal device and alarm means 50, openable closure 60 will be closed with safety pin 38 be-ing removed setting the stage for a detected entry into the inclosure formed partially by openable closure 60 and stationary support 62. When an individual opens door 60, spring means 34 will urge plunger 14 toward `the extended position of FIGURE 2 with switch activating lug 42 disengaging from operating button 44 of alarm switch 16. The outward movement of button 44, which is caused by a spring (not shown) in switch 16 closes an electrical circuit including batteries 52, wires 48, 54 and audible alarm 50, thus sounding the alarm. It should be understood, however, that alarm 50 may be a visual type alarm positioned at a remote location.

Maze and guide means 18 includes a guide strip desig- Inated generally at 64 forming a projection 66 providing a diagonal camming edge 68 disposed about a portion of the periphery of elliptical casing 20 communicating with a notch 70 and a first peripheral edge 72 for purposes more fully explained hereinafter. The primary function of guide strip 64 is performed by diagonal camming edge 68 in contacting pin 30 and rotating pin 30, shank 26, and switch activating lug 42 t-o the position shown in FIGURE 2. Since casing 20 is elliptical With a vertical long axis and a horizontal short axis as may be seen in FIGURE 3, it Will be apparent that the extremity of pin 30 Will be spaced slightly from the upper surface of housing 20 as may be seen in FIGURE 2.

In order for an individual to depress switch button 44 thereby deactivating alarm 50, it would be necessary to rotate plunger 14 in the direction opposite from that produced by the coaction of pin 30 and diagonal camming edge 68. In order to prevent such a simple means of ,.deactivating an alarm associated with the alarm switch device of the instant invention, an anti-reverse lug 74 is positioned on shaft 26 such that it will overlie stop bar 40 when plunger 14 is in the extended position shown in FIGURE 2. It Will accordingly be apparent that a reverse rotation of shaft 26 is precluded. It should be pointed out that anti-reverse lug 74 is so constructed and positioned that the forward end there-of will be rotated out of the way of stop bar 40 before the reciprocable movement of plunger `14 projects anti-reverse lug 74 against stop bar 40.

Another easy means for deactivat-ing switch 16 would be to depress shaft 26 allowing pin 30 to move along the long vertical axis of housing 20 until anti-reverse lug 74 clears stop bar 40 and then rotate plunger 14 until switch activating lug 42 contacts operating button 44. In order to obviate this possibility, a blocking insert 76 is positioned interiorly of elliptical casing 20 along the long axis thereof as may be seen by a comparison of FIGURES l and 3. As may be seen 4from FIGURE 2, the depression of plunger 14 will cause pin 30 to contact the forward edge of blocking insert 76 before lug 74 clears stop bar 40.

In order to allow an authorized knowledgeable individ- Y ual to deactivate alarm switch device 10, a maze strip v designated generally at 78 is provided extending about a port-ion of the periphery of elliptical casing 20 and providing a second peripheral edge 80 cooperating with first peripheral edge 72 to form a groove for receiving pin 30. Maze strip 78 provides a plurality of blind ends 82 such that only an authorized person may deactivate switch device 10. Maze strip 78 includes a clear passageway 84 therethrough such that shaft 26 may be rotated to engage pin 30 in the groove formed by peripheral edges 72, '80 for movement through clear passage- Way 84. The individual may then rotate shaft 26 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIGURE 2 to position switch activating lug 42 against button 44 thereby de- -actuating switch 16.

When pin 30 resides in the groove formed by peripheral edges 72, interiorly of elliptical casing 20, it will be apparent that the rotation of shaft 26 such that pin 30 projects vertically downwardly would allow an individual to depress plunger 14 and clear maze strip 78. In order to 4avoid such a situation, a blocking protuberance 86 is positioned at the lowest point along the long axis of elliptical casing 20. Accordingly, there is no other means of extricating pin 30 from the forward end of housing 12 other than through maze strip 78.

An alternative means of precluding an -individuals positioning pin within the peripheral groove formed by edges 72, 80, rotating shaft 26 until pin 30 is vert-ical and then depressing plunger 14 to clear pin 30 from maze 78 is to provide the terminal end 88 of the peripheral groove at a point such that pin 30 will bear thereagainst before reaching the vertically downward position. Since pin 30 is of such a length as to closely reside the interior of cylindrical casing 20 along the short axis thereof, it will be seen that terminal end 88 may be positioned so that pin 30 will not pass therethrough because of rotation.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 to 8 inclusive, another form of alarm signal device is indicated generally at 90 which has many components identical with alarm signal device 10. Accordingly, like reference characters will be used to designate like elements for purposes of brevity.

Alarm signal devi-ce 90 diiers from alarm signal device 10 in the construction `and arrangement of a guide and maze means designated generally at 92. Guide and maze means 92 includes a peripheral sheet of material 93 positionable within elliptical casing 20 forming a projection 94 providing an arcuate camming edge 96 for contacting maze engaging pin 30 -thereby rotating shaft 26, pin 30, switch activating lug 42 and anti-reverse lug 74. Because lof the elliptical nature of casing 20, pin 30 will be freed from camming edge 96 as pin 30 approaches the yapex of casing 20. Since guide and maze means 92 does not include a peripheral groove extending substantially all the way around the interior of casing 20, the elliptical nature thereof will preclude -the rotation of shaft 26 unless pin 30 is positioned in one of slots 98, 100, 102.

It will be seen that blocking insert 76 will preclude pin 30 from being longitudinally reciprocated out of maze and guide means 92 with anti-reverse lug 74 precluding reverse rotational movement. 4In this embodiment, as Well as the embodiment of FIGURES l to 4 inclusive, the relative dimensions of pin 30, guide and maze means 92 and elliptical casing 20 are important in precluding unauthorized retraction of plunger 14. Pin 30 should be of a sufficient length that it may clear casing 20 and sheet 93 when pin 30 is disposed along the long axis of elliptical casing 20, with casing 20 and sheet 93 precluding pin 30 from being positioned along the short axis of elliptical housing 12. A further length limitation of pin 30 is that it must be freely rotatable in casing 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, an entrance line 104 and an exit line 106 divide sheet 93 into three segments 108, 110, 112. The relative dimensions of casing 20, pin 30 and sheet 93 are such that pin 30 may ber eciprocated and sheet 93 are such that pin 30 may be reciprocated and rotated Within the areas designated by segments 108 and 112. On the other hand, the dimensions yof elliptical casing 20, pin 30 and sheet 93 are such that pin 30 may not be rotated through segment 110 unless it is received in one of slots 98, 100, 102.

It will be readily seen that pin 30 may be extricated from the forward end of housing 12 only by depressing plunger 14 until pin 30 resides adjacent the upper end of slot and then rotated until pin 30 becomes adjacent clear passageway 114 at which time plunger 14 must be depressed to position pin 30 within slot 102. Plunger 14 must then be rotated until pin 30 passes into segment 112 a at which time plunger 14 may be depressed to clear maze and guide means 92 with switch actuating lug 42 being juxtaposed to -operating button 44 thereby deactivating switch 16. It will be seen, therefore, that there is only one predetermined path for manipulating shaft 26 to deactivate switch 16.

It will be apparent that any number of maze and guide means may be constructed of different configurations to provide a small number of predetermined paths for extricating maze pin 3i) from the forward end of housing 12 in order to deactivate alarm 16. It will be further apparent that a plurality of circumferential grooves or lines may be positioned in shaft 26 visible when plunger 14 is in the extended positions of FIGURES 2 and 6 cooperating with a plurality of radial lines on apertured plate 22 for designating the combination needed to retract plunger 14. In addition, a delay device of any suitable type, such yas a pneumatic delay device, may be located in the position of switch 16 for activating alarm 15 at a predetermined delay interval from the extension of plunger 14.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved alarm switch device having all the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant invention concept, and since many modiiications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An alarm signalling device comprising a housing, a plunger including an outwardly extending maze engaging pin, means movably mounting said plunger in said housing, -at least one end of said plunger extending beyond said housing, means biasingly reciprocating said plunger from a withdrawn position to an extended position; switch means positioned adjacent said plunger for actuating an alarm, means on said plunger for manipulating said switch upon movement of said plunger from said withdrawn position to said extended position, and means forming a maze for receiving said maze engaging pin when said plunger is located adjacent said extended position precluding the retraction of said plunger to said withdrawn position until said plunger is rotated Iand pressed against said biasing means in a predetermined manner.

2. The structure of claim 1 including means for rotating said plunger in a predetermined direction when said plunger moves from said withdrawn position to said extended position, and said switch means includes an outwardly biased operating means operably engaged with a release-to-'close switch circuit, said switch manipulating means contacts and depresses said outwardly biased operating means when said plunger is in said retracted position whereby reciprocation and rotation of s-aid plunger in moving to said extended position operates said switch and physically displaces said switch manipulating means from said outwardly biased operating means and physically positions said maze engaging pin in said maze.

3. The structure of claim 2 including means precluding the rotation of said plunger in a direction opposite from said predetermined direction when said plunger comes to rest in said extended position.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said maze forming means includes means forming at least one peripheral groove about at least a portion of the interior of said housing for receiving said maze engaging pin.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said groove forming means provides a clear passageway communicating with said groove and extending generally in the direction of movement of said plunger.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said groove forming means includes an enlarged inwardly extending thickness of said housing lying along a substantial portion of the periphery of said housing, the composite ycross-sectioned opening formed by said housing and said sheet being characterized by a iirst axis and a second axis perpendicular to and of a lesser dimension than said rst axis, sai-d maze engaging pin being of sufficient length to move freely adjacent said first axis and to contact said sheet adjacent said second axis and precluding movement of said plunger when said pin is adjacent said second axis.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said enlarged inwardly extending thickness comprises a sheet of material aiiixed to said housing.

3. The structure of claim 6 wherein said peripheral groove spans at least said inwardly extending thickness adjacent said second axis.

9. The structure of claim 6 including blocking means adjacent said maze means along said first axis for engaging said maze pin precluding reciprocable movement of said plunger out of said maze by sirnp-le reciprocable movement of said maze pin along said iirst axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,112,3l6 9/1914 Percival 20D-61.64

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. I. I. BAKER, Examiner. 

1. AN ALARM SIGNALLING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A PLUNGER INCLUDING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING MAZE ENGAGING PIN, MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID PLUNGER IN SAID HOUSING, AT LEAST ONE END OF SAID PLUNGER EXTENDING BEYOND SAID HOUSING, MEANS BIASINGLY RECIPROCATING SAID PLUNGER FROM A WITHDRAWN POSITION TO AN EXTENDED POSITION; SWITCH MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID PLUNGER FOR ACTUATING AN ALARM, MEANS ON SAID PLUNGER FOR MANIPULATING SAID SWITCH UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER FROM SAID WITHDRAWN POSITION TO SAID EXTENDED POSITION, AND MEANS FORMING A MAZE FOR RECEIVING SAID MAZE ENGAGING PIN WHEN SAID PLUNGER IS LOCATED ADJACENT SAID EXTENDED POSITION PRECLUDING THE RETRACTION OF SAID PLUNGER TO SAID WITHDRAWN POSITION UNTIL SAID PLUNGER IS ROTATED AND PRESSED AGAINST SAID BIASING MEANS IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER. 